Mapeza bemoans calendar

Mukudzei Chingwere Sports Reporter
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza says he would have loved the local Premiership to end earlier to allow his side to shift focus to the Champions League which starts later this month.

FC Platinum will plunge into the continental game in the next two weeks when they begin their adventure with an away date to Madagascar’s CNaPS FC at Stade Municipal de Toamasina, Miarinarivo.

But with little time left before the commencement of their Champions League assignments, FC Platinum still have to fulfil and focus on their domestic Premiership duties with a clash against runners-up Ngezi Platinum scheduled for tomorrow at Mandava.

They will wind up their season with a fixture on the road away to Bulawayo giants Highlanders.

FC Platinum have featured on the continent on three different occasions, twice in the Champions League and the Confederation Cup, but failed to reach the group stages on all attempts.

Now they have set a target of reaching the mini-league stages.

However, addressing his routine weekly media briefing, the championship-winning gaffer said their preparations have somewhat been derailed by the Premiership calendar.

“It is always difficult, my wish as a coach or our wish as a club was maybe for the season to finish a little bit early.

“But as you are aware, CAF took some time in making decisions on releasing fixtures, at this stage we cannot complain, we just have to prepare and map a way forward,” said Mapeza.

Their preliminary round tie against the Malagasy side will not be a push over for the miners as they face a side with full Madagascar internationals.

Madagascar was the first nation to qualify for the 2019 AFCON finals, joining host Cameroon after topping a group that included African football powerhouses Senegal.

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